Bell & Howell Autoload 309 - please help

[Lynette Giblin]

I teach traditional black and white film photography and a student just brought a bell & howell autoload 309 to  me.  It looks like it is in good working condition and his family still has the projector to run the film.  What film can I buy specifically for him to use and more importantly...where can he get that film developed?  And what battery can I buy to make it work. Thanks!  Any other suggestions, input, etc on how to make it all work would be greatly appreciated as well.  

[Dom Jaeger]

Here’s a thread that goes into it a bit:

https://cinematography.com/index.php?/topic/39511-bell-and-howell-309/

Here’s a list of the camera’s functions, including what ASA films it can read:

https://www.filmkorn.org/super8data/database/cameras_list/cameras_bell/bell_309.htm

It’s a Super 8 camera, so it takes Super 8 cartridges. Google “Super 8 film and processing” to find your closest local source and lab. If your student wants to project the film, use reversal.

As the description link says, the camera uses 4 AAA batteries for power and a PX13 button cell for the internal light meter. If you google PX13 you can find alternatives like a Wein Cell, or just use a 1.5V button that will slightly alter the exposure reading. If your student wants to learn about metering, they can not worry about the internal meter battery and use an external light meter instead and manually set exposure.